If you’re tired of the treadmill, here are some bodyweight exercises that can be just as effective in burning fat and calories. Portia Page, a certified Pilates instructor and fitness expert, highlights four no-equipment workouts that can help you shed belly fat more efficiently than your usual cardio routine.

But why are these bodyweight exercises so effective? According to Portia, they can enhance your posture, which in turn can make your waist appear slimmer. By practicing good posture and engaging various muscle groups, you can create a taller and leaner silhouette. Improving your posture involves rolling your shoulders back, lifting your chest, and engaging your core muscles to support your spine.

It’s essential to note that spot reduction, the idea of targeting fat loss in specific areas, is a misconception. The key benefit of these exercises is their ability to facilitate total-body fat burning, which naturally includes tackling belly fat. So, by incorporating these bodyweight movements into your routine, you can work towards achieving your fitness goals more effectively.

Now, let’s break down Portia’s four favorite bodyweight moves to burn belly fat.

Hover With Hip Dips

1. Lie flat on the floor on your stomach.
2. Bring your elbows under your shoulders, lift your hips, and straighten your legs (with your toes tucked under) to “hover” off the floor.
3. Lower your left hip toward the floor.
4. Return to center.
5. Lower your right hip toward the floor.
6. Continue to alternate.
7. Complete 3 sets of 30 secs, 4 to 5 times per week.

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Bicycle Twists (Criss Cross)

1. Lie flat on your back with legs raised and bent to 90 degrees, hands placed at the back of your head.
2. Twist your left elbow to meet your right knee while extending your left leg.
3. Return to the center.
4. Twist your right elbow to meet your left knee while extending your right leg.
5. Continue to alternate.
6. Complete 3 sets of 30 sets (right/left), 4 to 5 times a week.

Side Planks

1. Sit on the floor on your left hip, left hand planted under your shoulder, legs extended, and feet stacked.
2. Rise up to a side plank, lifting your right arm toward the ceiling and pressing your bottom pinkie toe into the ground.
3. Hold the plank.
4. Repeat on the other side.
5. Perform 3 sets of 30 secs each side, 4 to 5 times per week.

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Standing Twists With Knee Lifts

1. Stand tall with your hands placed at the back of your head.
2. Lift your left knee and twist your right side toward it.
3. Return to the start position
4. Repeat on the other side as you continue to alternate.
5. Complete 3 sets of 60 sets each side, 4 to 5 times per week.

Alexa Mellardo